Hennepin, IL Live Doppler Radar
Live radar for Hennepin, Putnam County: every NWS radar combined, rain, snow and ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and official warnings.
What weather hits Hennepin?
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged heavy snow or a winter storm on 60 days in the Putnam forecast zone and Putnam County — the most common reported hazard around Hennepin, mostly in January and December. Next come damaging thunderstorm winds (56 days) and extreme cold & wind chill (13 days).
| Hazard | Days reported | Most recent | Worst on record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy snow & winter storms | 60 | Nov 2025 | — |
| Damaging thunderstorm winds | 56 | May 2026 | Apr 30, 2003 · $3.0 million damage |
| Extreme cold & wind chill | 13 | Jan 2019 | — |
| High winds | 9 | Feb 2019 | Apr 6, 1997 · $100,000 damage |
| Ice storms & sleet | 9 | Feb 2019 | Dec 11, 2007 · $50,000 damage |
| Flash flooding | 9 | May 2020 | Jul 12, 2008 · $50,000 damage |
| Blizzards | 6 | Mar 2026 | — |
| Excessive heat | 5 | Aug 2013 | — |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996–2026 (the latest year is partial). A "day" is a date with at least one report in the Putnam forecast zone and Putnam County; damage is as reported, not adjusted for inflation.
How much snow does Hennepin get?
A normal year brings about 29 inches of snow to Hennepin, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the Princeton weather station 10.7 miles away. The snowiest month is usually January (8.6 in).
| Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 1.3 | 6.8 | 8.6 | 6.9 | 3.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
Normal snowfall in inches. TALON Pro compares this season's snow at your location with these normals as winter goes on.
Which radars cover Hennepin?
The closest NEXRAD Doppler radar is KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 68 miles east-northeast. Radar beams climb as they travel, so the height of the lowest scan over town decides how low in a storm the radar can see.
| Radar | Distance | Lowest beam over Hennepin | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLOT Chicago, IL | 68 mi east-northeast | 5,500 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KDVN Quad Cities, IA | 70 mi west-northwest | 5,700 ft | Good — most storms and steady rain or snow show clearly |
| KILX Lincoln, IL | 76 mi south | 6,400 ft | Fair — the beam can pass over shallow snow and low-level rotation |
Beam height is the center of the 0.5° scan above the radar, with standard refraction. Mountains near a radar can block it further.
Tornado & hail history near Hennepin
Since 1950, NOAA has recorded 94 tornadoes within 25 miles of Hennepin, 23 of them EF2/F2 or stronger. Most came in June and July. The strongest was an F3 on April 20, 2004, which passed about 2 miles east of town and caused 8 deaths. The most recent was an EF1 on July 14, 2024, which touched down about 9 miles south-southwest of town.
Hail: 234 reports of 1-inch or larger hail within 25 miles since 1955, 17 of them 2 inches or more; the largest was 4.00-inch hail on July 13, 2004.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center — tornadoes 1950–2025, hail 1955–2025. Distances are to each tornado's track; ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita scale.
On TALON you get Hennepin's live radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks with arrival times and NWS warnings free; close-up radar and rotation detection are part of TALON Pro.
Hennepin radar FAQ
Where is the nearest weather radar to Hennepin, IL?
KLOT (Chicago, IL), about 68 miles east-northeast. KDVN (Quad Cities, IA) is 70 miles away and also covers the area.
Does radar show snow in Hennepin?
Yes. TALON colors snow blue, a rain–snow mix pink and freezing rain purple using NOAA's precipitation-type analysis. Over Hennepin the lowest scan from KLOT is about 5,500 ft up.
Is TALON's radar for Hennepin free?
Yes — the US radar loop, rain/snow/ice colors, flash-flood risk, storm tracks and NWS warnings are free in any browser. Close-up radar, rotation detection and longer forecasts are part of TALON Pro.
Should I rely on radar for my safety?
No app replaces official warnings. When the National Weather Service issues a warning for Hennepin, follow it right away — see watch vs. warning.
Radar for nearby towns
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- De Pue, IL radar 5 mi
- Spring Valley, IL radar 8 mi
- Henry, IL radar 9 mi
- Ladd, IL radar 10 mi
- Peru, IL radar 12 mi
- Princeton, IL radar 12 mi
- LaSalle, IL radar 13 mi
- Oglesby, IL radar 13 mi
- Lacon, IL radar 16 mi